Creation Myths of Primitive America: In relation to the Religious History and Mental Development of MankindCurtin, Jeremiah
Religion
Creation Myths of Primitive America: In relation to the Religious History and Mental Development of Mankind
Curtin, Jeremiah
Creation -- Mythology; Indian mythology -- North America; Indians of North America -- Folklore
The Siriwit brothers went some distance along the front rank, then
turned back and rushed to where Nor Patsas had fallen. He was on his
feet again, and dashed a second time at Chir Chuma. When just before
the enemy, Nor Patsas struck his brand against the ground, a hundred
men leaped up around him; all sprang on Chir Chuma, but the two
brothers scattered and trampled every one of them.
Nor Patsas was raging. He had never been so angry in his life till
that day. He turned and rushed at the northern army. He struck the
ground once, twice, three times with his brand, and three hundred
raging men were there around him. A battle began on the left northern
wing, fierce and very bloody. Nor Patsas found no one to match him
till Chir Chuma returned. The Siriwits were somewhat tired, and went
more slowly while Chir Chuma fought with Nor Patsas. Chir Chuma had a
red flint, called also sucker flint. With every blow of this he killed
fifty and sometimes sixty people. When Nor Patsas gave a blow, he
killed as many, and every time he struck the ground with his brand a
hundred warriors sprang up to help him.
The fight begun by Nor Patsas with Chir Chuma brought in the two
armies. Both sides fought desperately, but no one could conquer Nor
Patsas till Yipokus came at midday. He rushed at the peevish,
passionate warrior with weapons made of ice and snow. In the heat of
battle water flowed from them and killed Nor Patsas, quenched the life
in him. The southern army was pushed back, and driven a long distance
down the river.
In the middle of the afternoon they rallied, turned on the pursuers,
drove them to the field where they began in the morning, and were
driving them farther, when Nom Toposloni ran past, and, throwing her
crushed bark with the wind, filled many eyes with it and almost
blinded them. She brought disorder to the southern army.
Norbis, afraid of being beaten, was ready now for anything. He called
in Norhara Chepmis, who ran swiftly from the southwest with his
warriors. A mighty storm of wind swept forward with Norhara. He struck
the northern army fiercely. Wainom Yola, seeing this, rushed at the
southern force with all his people, and they were so many that no man
could count them. They were as swift as arrows. A roaring wind went
with them.
Wainom Yola cut right through the southern army, and, turning, rushed
toward Norhara Chepmis and his warriors. These two with their armies
fought hardest of all on that day. In half an hour very few were left
alive on either side, and those left were so weak that Norhara Chepmis
and Wainom Yola were hardly able to lead them from the field.
There was not a man in the forces of the Tede Wiu brothers or Norbis
who was not covered with snow and drenched with rain; all were
shivering and nearly dead.
No one wished to fight for a long time after that day.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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